Northwood News ♦ June 2004

Ritz, Starbucks Coming to BMSC

By Jacquie Bokow

I spoke recently with Jon Rhodes, the property manager for the Burnt Mills Shopping Center.  He confirmed that, besides Trader Joe’s, the Center will also house a Ritz Camera shop and a Starbucks Coffee, although these contracts haven’t been signed.

“We have more tenants than we have space,” said Rhodes.  It’s a happy dilemma for Finmarc Management, which allows them to hand pick those establishments they believe will be successful in this area.  (No word yet on that ice cream parlor we wanted!)

Rhodes did say that they are negotiating with a family-owned, sit-down restaurant located in Bethesda which is seeking to open a second location.  “It is not a chain restaurant,” he assured me, but we “would recognize the name.”  This restaurant would be located at the opposite end of the BMSC from Trader Joe’s.

Other shops that may go in are an upscale women’s cosmetic/hair salon or a women’s clothing store.  He would not give any names at this time.

Finmarc Management co-owner David Fink added that “possibly a bank” may be included.

Environmental Efforts

In response to concerns raised about the amount of water run-off into the Northwest Branch from all the new hard-surface paving, Fink mentioned that a large, underground stormwater system will be added beneath the parking lot (it’s in the design submitted to the county).  This underground vault will take care of both the quantity and quality of water going into the Northwest Branch and includes several filters and an oil-grid separator which has to be cleaned once a year.  “It was a huge expense,” said Fink, but one necessary to protect the Northwest Branch.

Rhodes will be attending the NFCCA meeting on 9 June and will be the first to speak, at 7:30 p.m.  He may have additional details about new tenants at that time.   ■